New Horizons in Accounting
Traditionally, most accounting graduates have pursued roles in tax and audit with one of the large public accounting firms. While many still choose that path, a diverse array of other opportunities has opened to those who possess both accounting acumen and an understanding of technology.
Opening Doors to New Careers
Over the past several years, the curriculum of Haslam’s Master of Accountancy (MAcc) program has expanded beyond audit and tax to include information management, which focuses on information technology skills and knowledge including IT audit, IT consulting, and cybersecurity. The move in that direction coincided with increased demand from employers for candidates with both IT and accounting skills, says program director and EY Professor, Robert Fuller.
“We’re seeing a significant change in what firms and corporations are requiring,” Fuller says. “They need people who understand data and disruptive technologies, and the impact these have on important decisions in the organization.”
As a result, career opportunities for Haslam’s MAcc graduates have broadened considerably. About 50 percent go into Big Four public accounting, while 25 percent go to mid-size accounting firms and the other 25 percent to areas such as manufacturing, healthcare, and wealth management. Several years into their careers, Haslam MAcc alumni are dispersed even more widely: working in diverse areas such as major league baseball, university athletics, financial software development, and attaining positions as VPs or CFOs in their companies, or even starting their own firms. “It’s a reflection of where we’re seeing the profession going,” says Fuller. “It’s expanding well beyond accounting and toward professional and consulting services, leveraging technology and analytics across any organization.”
Drawing Students From Other Disciplines
Haslam’s MAcc program also has opened its doors to students who don’t have an undergraduate degree in accounting. Necessary prerequisites can be completed in a year or less. Over the last few years, the program has seen students coming from a variety of academic and professional backgrounds including law, financial planning, psychology, and education. About 20 percent of MAcc students today are non-accounting majors. “We’ve really tried to ease the entry ramp,” Fuller says. “It’s rewarding to provide an opportunity for people to come through the program and completely pivot their career in a few years.”
A World of Opportunities in Business Cybersecurity
Cybersecurity professionals are in high demand, with job growth up 20 percent this year alone and expected to keep climbing. Currently, students in the MAcc program can take cybersecurity as part of the information management track or as an elective.
Opportunities in the field abound for accounting graduates, says Johanna Baum, CEO and founder of S3 Consulting in Atlanta, Georgia. “There are so many different roles they can fill, including data analysis, software development, strategy, and penetration testing.” Baum began her career in information security at EY and launched her own consulting firm in 2005. Today, she serves on the AIM Advisory Board and regularly speaks to Haslam students about the cybersecurity industry. “Students who enjoy solving puzzles and breaking codes tend to be attracted to this field. It can be exciting and interesting work.”
